International

Burma’s military junta extends ceasefire until April 30 due to the earthquake

The military junta of Burma (Myanmar) announced on Tuesday an extension of the ceasefire that expired today and that will now last until April 30, with the aim of “accelerating” the transit of humanitarian aid in the country after the earthquake of March 28.

In a statement, the military government, which holds power after the February 2021 coup, explained that this decision also seeks to accelerate the country’s rehabilitation efforts, in view of the collapse of thousands of infrastructures due to the earthquake, which left more than 3,700 dead in the center-north of the country.

It is about “attaining a lasting peace and maintaining stability,” added the junta, accused by the opposition and by the United Nations (UN) of having violated the truce announced on April 2 on numerous occasions.

The board then announced that it would stop the attacks days after its opponents called for this truce, including the pro-democratic Government of National Unity (NUG), which declares itself the legitimate Burmese authority.

Precisely, this group denounced on Monday that the military carried out bombings on April 18 that caused 12 deaths in Mandalay, the second most populous city in the country and among the most affected by the 7.7 magnitude earthquake.

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This complaint came a week after the UN counted 120 attacks perpetrated by the military after the earthquake, most of them after the ceasefire and in areas declared an emergency due to the devastation.

The military regime said today, in an article published by the newspaper The Global New Light of Myanmar, that “armed terrorists” – as he describes the groups it faces, including ethnic and pro-democratic guerrillas – “have been launching attacks” and that they will respond to these “threats.”

“Therefore, residents of areas where terrorists have taken control must prioritize their safety and protect themselves,” reads the letter.

China, which has mediated between the junta and the guerrillas, confirmed on Monday that it sent a ceasefire monitoring team to the Burmese city of Lashio, at the joint request of the generals and the group the Democratic Alliance of Burma (MNDAA), after an agreement reached by both parties in the Chinese city of Kunming.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Friday that he was willing to extend the ceasefire after holding talks in Bangkok with the head of the board, Min Aung Hlaing, and representatives of the NUG, as a condition for the arrival of more humanitarians.

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International

IEA warns Middle East conflict could spark worst energy crisis in decades

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East could trigger the worst energy crisis in decades, warned Fatih Birol, head of the International Energy Agency (IEA), who described the situation as “very serious.”

Speaking at the National Press Club in Canberra, Birol compared the current scenario to the oil crises of the 1970s, noting that during those events the world lost around five million barrels of oil per day in each crisis.

“Today, we have lost 11 million barrels per day—more than the two major oil shocks combined,” he said.

The Turkish economist referred to the conflict that began on February 28, following attacks by the United States and Israel against Iran, which have significantly disrupted global energy markets and driven oil prices higher.

Birol warned that the global economy is facing a “very, very serious threat” and expressed hope that the crisis will be resolved soon.

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“No country will be immune to the effects of this crisis if it continues in this direction. Global efforts are urgently needed,” he emphasized.

International

Colombian Air Force Hercules plane crashes during takeoff with troops onboard

A Lockheed C-130 Hercules operated by the Colombian Air Force was involved in a “tragic accident” while taking off from Puerto Leguízamo, in the Putumayo department of southern Colombia, as it was transporting troops, Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez reported on Monday.

The minister stated on social media that the exact number of victims and the causes of the crash have not yet been determined. He also extended his condolences to the families affected and urged the public to avoid speculation until official information is confirmed.

“This is a deeply painful event for the country. Our prayers are with the victims and their families,” Sánchez said, adding that emergency protocols have been activated and an investigation is underway.

Meanwhile, President Gustavo Petro expressed hope that there would be no fatalities in what he described as a “horrific accident that should not have happened.”

Petro also highlighted ongoing efforts to modernize the country’s air fleet and reiterated the need to acquire new helicopters and transport aircraft to strengthen military mobility, particularly in remote regions.

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According to local media reports, approximately 110 soldiers were on board the aircraft. So far, at least 20 injured military personnel have been rescued.

International

Paris prosecutors alert U.S. over alleged deepfake strategy linked to Elon Musk

The Paris Prosecutor’s Office said on Saturday that it had alerted authorities in the United States over suspicions that tech entrepreneur Elon Musk may have encouraged the spread of sexualized deepfake content on the social platform X to artificially boost the company’s valuation.

According to prosecutors, the controversy surrounding explicit AI-generated videos—reportedly linked to Grok, the platform’s artificial intelligence system—may have been deliberately triggered to increase the market value of X and X AI.

The office added that the alleged strategy could be tied to the planned June 2026 public listing of a new entity formed through the merger of SpaceX and X AI.

French authorities said they contacted the U.S. Department of Justice as well as legal representatives at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) earlier this week to share their concerns.

Responding on X in French to a report about the case, Musk referred to French prosecutors using an offensive term.

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When contacted, X’s legal representative in France did not immediately comment.

Grok, the platform’s AI system, has its own account on X, allowing users to interact with it or request content generation. For a period, users were able to tag the bot in posts to generate or edit images, a feature that may have facilitated the spread of such material.